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i am learning that it is really is 80% emotional and 20% trading skill.
You are learning. The "emotional" aspect makes up 80% of trading, yet, paper trading is not capable of simulating the real-time emotions that dynamically occur in real-time when tangible or other forms of actual risk/reward exist. hmmm
And so the next question is, how does paper trading assist with the 20% "skill" portion? Learning platform features and specific manual machinations (ie when and where to click the mouse) is not "skill". And looking at a chart or reading a price ladder in demo mode or live mode is the same. (datafeed difference is not being discussed) . So what skill is being taught?
Deaddog's idea is not bad... use paper trading to see if you can follow the rules THAT YOU CREATED. But how long does that take? A day or two? weeks? months? longer? And if you change rules do you start again? WHY? How would changing rules (that you create) affect your ability to follow those same rules? Are changes fitted to offset abilities or lack of? I'll bet you can answer the question right now: CAN YOU FOLLOW RULES THAT YOU CREATE? YES OR NO. ANSWER RIGHT NOW! If your answer is anything but yes, there are mental/emotional issues going on that paper trading can not fix. Red or black, shirts or skins, gun to your head will get you past or point you elsewhere.
